Eagle Football Starts 2017 At No. 18 In D2Football.com Poll

Following being picked No. 20 in the Lindy's Sports College Football National 2017 Preview preseason poll, Ashland University's football team is tabbed at No. 18 in the 2017 D2Football.com Top 25 poll, released on Monday (Aug. 28).

The Eagles also received votes in the 2017 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 preseason poll released earlier this month.

In 2016, Ashland was 9-2 overall and won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference South Division title. This fall, AU returns 13 starters - eight on offense and five on defense.

The Eagles' 2017 season begins on Thursday (Aug. 31) at 7 p.m. at Indiana, Pa., ranked No. 9 in the D2Football.com preseason poll. Ashland also plays two other Top 10 D2Football.com teams this season – No. 2 Ferris State at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m., and No. 3 Grand Valley State at home on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.